The Building Tradesman Newspaper

Friday, May 31, 2013

By The Building Tradesman

Workers’ comp kids can seek scholarship

“Kids’ Chance Scholarships” for children of injured workers seeking higher education are now available from the recently established Kids’ Chance of Michigan, the 26th state chapter of Kids’ Chance America, a national non-profit.

Kids’ Chance Scholarships are offered to children with a parent that has suffered a catastrophic injury or fatality compensable under Michigan Workers’ Compensation Law and can demonstrate financial need. The child must be between the ages of 17 and 22 seeking higher education at any Michigan college, community college or vocational/trade school. Awards range from $2,500- $5,000 based on the determination of the Scholarship Committee.

There are still some scholarships available for the fall 2013 semester, but act quickly.

Having been involved in the field of workers’ compensation for over 35 years representing employers and insurance carriers, Bloomfield Hills Attorney Murray Feldman saw a need and acted. Feldman said, “I’m honored to be the Founding President of Kids’ Chance of Michigan in offering help, opportunity and hope to the kids of qualifying injured workers.”

Kids’ Chance of Michigan, founded in November, 2012, is a Michigan non-profit and has been granted IRS 501(c)(3) status.

(PAI) – Fearing public reaction which could hurt their party at the polls next year – symbolized by a mass May Day protest on the state Capitol lawn in Columbus, Ohio – Republican state legislative leaders in Ohio and Missouri effectively stopped drives for so-called right-to-work laws.

But the fight isn’t over yet, at least in Ohio. The Buckeye State’s Tea Party affiliate says it will gather signatures to put right-to-work on the ballot this November. It faces a July deadline.

Union leaders, members and activists call such legislation “right to work for less,” referring to lower wages, lessened benefits and weak job security in right-to-work states.

Ohio GOP Gov. John Kasich learned a lesson from pushing SB5 two years ago. That law stripped all Ohio state and local workers of all collective bargaining rights. Labor and its allies petitioned SB5 to a referendum. Voters bounced SB5 in November 2011, 61-39 percent.

That history led Ohio State Senate President Keith Faber (R) to turn thumbs down on right to work. And Kasich took no position on RTW, but did not put it on his agenda, either.

In Missouri, State Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey (R) said rank-and-file members of his caucus want to pass RTW and the GOP-run Missouri House plans to do so. But Gov. Jay Nixon (D) will veto it and Dempsey says the GOP lacks the needed votes to override his move. So Dempsey’s reaction was: “Why bother?”